Gilead x1
Defying the critics (re: Julian), I've made it some 70 pages into Gilead. It's strange to read such a popular book that feels completely personal and rife with elements I thought only a small group of people (re: US presbyterians with a modicum of theological understanding and some experience with the ministry) were privy to; think references to Feuerbach and the unfortunate divide between the Pastor (and his family) and his congregation. Though I suppose both of those things aren't unique to either myself NOR the outside world.
Still, it might just be a product of its tone, but the book feels like it was written by someone immensely close, where none of the obvious candidates (father, mother, sisters, friends) quite fit, but yet somehow the collective weight of my particular tradition is so powefully displayed in such a subjective fashion I can't help but feel that the Rev. John Ames is somehow my father, mother, sisters, and friends. It's all so strange.
The novel is incredibly well written. It's rare that I find a book that doesn't tempt me to skip ahead a few lines; this one demands I read each line carefully. Robinson doesn't overburden (thus far) the story with emotive elements, humorous stories, irony, or "fatherly wisdom dispensing". If it suffers from anything, in good Presbyterian fashion, its too much of "everything in moderation".
Honestly though, the sum of its parts thus far has been greater than the whole. I can't pinpoint to you one portion that, quite frankly, makes me want to collapse and cry. But its just that good. I want to believe, very badly, that Rev. Jon Ames is a pretentious SOB, but he'd admit to it were it the prudent thing to do in a given time and place.
Of course, now I'm discussing the main character, and not the book itself. I don't know much about literature, I leave that to Mesh & Julian.
Anyways, I'll have more thoughts as I read more.
| By Josiah Roe | 11:39 AM
Comments
I'm glad you're loving it. I was hoping -- having, in standard fashion, only read reviews -- that the Midwestern Reformed family would resonate. I'm glad that someone is writing that story.
Posted by: mesh at April 8, 2005 12:07 PM
And writing it well.
Posted by: carr at April 8, 2005 12:25 PM
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